We worked with the third grade to teach them about the history of the Black Walnut in Gonzales County and how the trees were used.  We stressed the importance of conservation and the impact of loss of species.  The Guadalupe Black Walnut was once the dominant tree in Gonzales County but it was logged to near extinction in the 1880’s.  There are still a very few of these native trees left.  Our members gathered viable nuts from known trees.  In the fall, third graders from Gonzales Elementary received a lesson about the history of the trees and the possibility that they can help to make these trees common once again.  Each student planted a nut.  The Master Gardeners kept the trees at the Fair Street Greenhouse where the students can visited them.  The following year, the students returned as fourth graders and helped to distribute and plant their trees.  We hope our children will someday be able to tell their children how they each helped to make the Black Walnut common in Gonzales County once again.

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